The Standing Council of Attorneys General (SCAG) met in Brisbane today and agreed to a review of the Legal Aid preferred supplier (private lawyer) model before the next National Partnership Agreement in 2030.
A review of the private lawyer model nation-wide will provide a critical picture of the supply of Legal Aid lawyers and provision of legal aid for disadvantaged communities. It will also highlight issues relating to the sustainability of the courts and legal system in Australia.
Private lawyers undertake over 70% of legal aid representation work and a recent NLA survey of these lawyers found that 30% plan to cease providing this work within 5 years.
Legal Aids are jointly funded by the Commonwealth and State-Territory Governments. This review presents a crucial opportunity to develop a national plan to ensure that lawyers are available to represent disadvantaged people across Australia.
Without an adequate supply of lawyers, the capacity for Legal Aids to deliver legal representation services will be highly limited, impacting on clients and the efficient operation of the courts and justice system.
National Legal Aid looks forward to supporting the planning of this review with Commonwealth and State-Territory Governments and working towards a sustainable Legal Aid system which is able to provide access to legal help for the most disadvantaged communities in Australia.